RedHawks' bats silenced in home defeat

FARGO – Even though it was a superhero promotional night Tuesday at Newman Outdoor Field, a Superman never emerged for the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks.

Sioux City Explorers starter Jason Jarvis served as the kryptonite to the RedHawks bats.

Jarvis pitched a seven-hit shutout to lead the Explorers to a 6-0 victory in American Association baseball before 3,024 fans.

“It was the tempo that he worked at that threw our guys off a little bit,” RedHawks manager Doug Simunic said of Jarvis. “We just seemed to be a little bit behind him. We didn’t strike many balls.”

The RedHawks (13-18) had their four-game winning streak snapped. The Explorers and F-M conclude their three-game series at 7:02 tonight at Newman.

“We’ll keep our heads up,” said RedHawks shortstop Zach Penprase said. “Four wins in a row is a positive and then one loss. Hopefully, we can get back on that wagon and put a streak together.”

Jarvis (3-3) struck out three and walked two while scattering the seven hits. The right-hander needed 114 pitches, including 77 strikes, en route to the shutout.

“When you get a guy working quick, filling up the zone, you’ve got to swing it well,” Penprase said. “And if you don’t swing it well, then he’s going to get some outs.”

The RedHawks had their best scoring chances against Jarvis in the opening two innings.

F-M center fielder Nic Jackson grounded into a double play with runners on first and third base to halt a scoring threat in the first inning. In the second inning, the RedHawks loaded the bases with two outs. That potential rally ended after leadoff hitter Aharon Eggleston grounded out to second base.

“We had a couple chances in the first two innings to get him (Jarvis) on the ropes,” Simunic said. “We didn’t take very good swings with guys in scoring position. … You’ve got to take advantage, especially when you are not hitting the ball deep or over the fence.”

The RedHawks had four of their seven hits in the first two innings, including a Ryan Stovall double in the second inning. Stovall had the only extra-base hit against Jarvis.

Jarvis retired 13 of 14 batters during one stretch. Jarvis struck out Stovall for the game’s final out.

The Explorers did most of their offensive damage in the seventh inning, scoring three runs. Sioux City got an RBI single from Michael Lang, an RBI double from Kris Sanchez and an RBI single from Ray Serrano on three consecutive at-bats.

Serrano’s RBI staked the Explorers to a 6-0 lead.

“When we have to get in catch-up mode, we are not very good at it,” Simunic said.

NOTES: Left-hander Jake Laber (0-3, 4.78 ERA) is scheduled to start today for the RedHawks. The Explorers are expected to counter with lefty Alain Quijano (2-2, 2.20 ERA). … The start of Tuesday’s game was delayed 15 minutes due to rain. … Eggleston went 2-for-4 off Jarvis. He was the only F-M player with more than one hit Tuesday. Eggleston is batting .283 for the season.